Match ends, Livingston 0, Morton 1.
LivingstonLivingston0MortonGreenock Morton1
A Thomas O'Ware header in 64 minutes was enough to take Morton through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.
The central defender got on the end of Ross Forbes inswinging corner to claim the only goal of the game.
It was the Greenock side's third win of the season against their Championship rivals.
Livingston are struggling near the foot of the table but can be encouraged by their fighting if ultimately futile performance.
Experienced midfielder Mark Fotheringham picked up a booking in his first game back at Livingston but both he and Sam Stanton showed they can be important additions for David Hopkin.
The on-loan Hibernian youngster brought a touch of class to the midfield while Fotheringham provided steel in the holding role as well as decent delivery from set pieces.
They had their work cut out against a Morton side who dominated possession in the first half but failed to make the most of it.
Forbes sent a swerving 25-yard free kick just past the post on 18 minutes but should have done better from much closer 10 minutes from the break.
Right-back Connor Pepper was a constant threat on the counter-attack and his sweeping cross picked out Forbes only for him to knock the ball wide from six yards.
Livingston were largely restricted to long range efforts with Liam Buchanan twice failing to hit target while Stanton's shot was straight at Derek Gaston.
The second half followed a similar pattern and it was no surprise that Morton's decisive goal came from a set piece situation.
Forbes delivery from corners caused problems all day but never more so than in 64 minutes when he found O'Ware in the six yard box to score with a powerful header.
Buchanan squandered Livingston's best chance of taking the tie to a replay and it does not get any easier for them in the league as it's Rangers away next followed by Falkirk at home.
Line-ups
Livingston
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Jamieson
- 15Neill
- 6Gordon
- 14Gallagher
- 3Longridge
- 7PittmanSubstituted forKnoxat 83'minutes
- 8FotheringhamBooked at 22mins
- 10MullenSubstituted forCurrieat 85'minutes
- 23Stanton
- 18SheerinSubstituted forWhiteat 67'minutesBooked at 69mins
- 19Buchanan
Substitutes
- 9White
- 11Hippolyte
- 16Gibbons
- 20Currie
- 34Knox
- 38Quinn
Morton
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Gaston
- 15PepperBooked at 90mins
- 2Kilday
- 19Gasparotto
- 17RussellBooked at 72mins
- 7McKeeBooked at 63mins
- 4O'Ware
- 8ForbesSubstituted forLamieat 86'minutes
- 18Samuel
- 9Johnstone
- 21McManus
Substitutes
- 3Lamie
- 6Miller
- 16Barr
- 28Quitongo
- 30McGowan
- 31McWaters
- 36Tennant
- Referee:
- Craig Charleston
- Attendance:
- 873
Match Stats
Home TeamLivingstonAway TeamMorton
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Livingston 0, Morton 1.
Booking
Conor Pepper (Morton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Liam Buchanan (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Conor Pepper (Morton).
Post update
Matthew Knox (Livingston) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Conor Pepper (Morton).
Post update
Attempt saved. Mark Russell (Morton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Morton. Ricki Lamie replaces Ross Forbes.
Substitution
Substitution, Livingston. Ryan Currie replaces Daniel Mullen.
Post update
Attempt missed. Liam Buchanan (Livingston) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Declan McManus (Morton) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Livingston. Conceded by Joe McKee.
Substitution
Substitution, Livingston. Matthew Knox replaces Scott Pittman.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Daniel Mullen (Livingston) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Livingston. Conceded by Lee Kilday.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Samuel Stanton (Livingston) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Livingston. Conceded by Luca Gasparotto.
Post update
Scott Pittman (Livingston) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Declan McManus (Morton).
